The celebrated history of the renowned Robin Hood, the merry outlaw of Sherwood Forest, to which is added the professor of signs

24

Geordy, how have yoa come on, and what
do yon think of yon man ? — " The rascal I"
says Geordy, " what did he do first think
ye? he held up one finger, as much as to
say, you have only one eye ; then 1 held up
two, meaning that my one eye was perhaps
as good as both his. Then the fellow held
up three of his fingers, to say there were but
three eyes between us ; and then I was so
mad at the scoundrel, that I steeked my
neive, and was going to come a whack on
the side of his head, and wad ha'e done't
too, but for your sakes. Then the rascal
did not stop with his provocation here, but
forsooth, takes out an orange, as much as to
say, your poor beggarly cold country cannot
produce that ! I shewed him a whang of a
bear bannock, meaning that I didna care a
farthing for him, nor his trash neither, as
king's I ha'e this ! But by a' that's guid,
(continued Geordy,) I'm angry yet, that 1
didna thrash the hide o' the scoundrel !" — So
much for the signs, or two ways of telling
a story,

THE

CELEBRATED HISTORY

OF THE RENOWNED

J TO

THE MERRY OUTLAW
OF SHERWOOD FOREST.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

THE PROFESSOR OF SIGNi

leg

GLASGOW:

PRIMED FOB THE liOi/ivclXLEES.

23

12

Robin tied his horse to a tree, and coming
up to the friar, said, " Garry me over this
river, thou brawny friar, or I will crack thy
crown." The friar returned no answer, but
immediately took Robin upon his back, and
carried him to the other side without speak-
ing a single word. Robin leapt off the
friar's back, and pretended to be going away;
but the friar stopped him, saying, '< Carry
me back again, thou fine fellow, or it shall
breed thee pain." Robin took the friar on
his back ; and having carried him across the
water, he then insisted on the monk taking
him over again, or he would break his bones.
The friar took Robin on his back ; but on
coming to the middle of the water, he
threw him in, saying, " Now my fine fellow,
take your choice, whether thou will sink or
swim," Robin, however, got to land as soon
as the friar ; and challenged him to wrestle,
shoot, and to a bout at quarter-staff; but at
none of these could he beat the friar, nor the
friar him. Robin was so well pleased with
the friar, that he wanted him to join the
merry men ; but the friar would not consent,
and even tried to persuade Robin to turn
monk ; so they shook hands, and parted
good friends.

One day, as Robin was in search of ad-
ventures near the skirts of the Forest, he
mounted, with a fat buck

13

across his saddle, and disguised in a coun-
tryman's frock. Being in want of a horse,
he resolved to rob the parson, and laying
hold to the briddle, ordered him to dismount ;
but the priest struck a furious blow at^ Robin
with the but-end of his whip, which he
received on his staff, and soon brought the
priest to the ground.

After robbing the parson of his money
and horse, and. requesting to be remembered
in his prayers, Robin rode oil" for for Strat-
ford. On the road he fell in with a rich
country dealer going to purchase goods at
Lancaster, with whom he soon got acquainted
and they travelled together ; but the mer-
chant was so close, that Robin, could make
nothing of him. On reaching Coventry,
where they dined together, and drank some
good wine and ale, Robin told his fellow-
traveller, that as the roads they had to travel
were so dangerous, the safest way was to
conceal their money in their boots, and on
seeing Robin deposit a bag of gold, the
merchant did the same. They again con-
tinued their journey until they came to a part
of the road which crossed two ways, where
Robin pulled off the merchant's boots, in
which he got three hundred pieces of gold,
and rode off for Sherwood Forest.

At one time when the finances of the
merry men Avere very low, they resolved to

20

could not help thinking they were much
better trained than his own men.

After dinner, the pretended monks again
mounted their horses, and were preparing
to take their leave of the bowmen, when the
king said to Robin Hood, " N ow, my brave
fellow, if I were to procure your pardon and
that of your men, would you turn faithful
and useful subjects ?" This being the first
wish of Robin's heart, and for some time
past always uppermost in his thoughts, he
replied, " Abbot, I am tired of this kind of
life; and though some may praise our bold
adventures and generous actions, yet I now
hate every thing connected with it. Were
King Richard, who is a gallant soldier and
a generous prince, to pardon our offences,
and take us into favour, he woidd never
have reason to repent his clemency, for he
would find us the most loyal and peaceful of
his subjects."

"Behold your king !" said Richard open-
ing a part of the monk's cloak, which dis-
covered the star and other insignia, Robin
and his bowmen were instantly on their
knees before him. " Rise up my brave
fellows, your leader is now Earl of Hunt-
ingdon, which is his just right, from being
next heir to the late earl. I restore you
again to society, by freely pardoning all your
past offences ; and I expect from your future

5

only means of saving his soul. When
Robin arrived at the Hall, his uncle was
dead, and the monks, who had taken posses-
sion of the house, shut the doors against him,
and would give him nothing, which was
a sad reverse to poor Robin, for he had been
brought iip as a gentleman without learning
any business, and was unable to gain a
livelihood. On turning from the Hall, he
found Little John waiting for him, and,
determined to unite their fortunes, they re-
solved to go to Sherwood Forest, and support
themselves by their bows.

Although the Forest abounded with deer,
Robin found that other comforts were neces-
sary, which could not be procured without
money ; and thinking that the monks who
had deprived him of his estate ought to sup-
ply this, he laid every priest under contri-
bution.

The fame of Robin Hood, and the merry
life he led, soon drew a number of young
men to join his band, and increased it to
above one hundred of the bravest fellows in
the kingdom, whom he clothed in green.
When the monks, from being so often plun-
dered, came less in the way, Robin's men
were obliged to extend their depredations to
other parts of the country. It was only to
priests, and the niggardly rich, that Robin
Hood was an enemy; for he held the person

4

up and played all the tricks after him, and
in a better style. The Squire was so de-
lighted with his nephew, that he promised
to make him his heir, if he would remain at
Gamewell Hall. Robin consented to stay,
provided he got little John to attend him,
for a great intimacy had taken place between

them.

Robin Hood, to a very handsome person,
added a courageous and enterprising spirit,
and a disposition noble and generous ; but
his uncle's indulgence obscured his better
qualities. Except an occasional visit to his
parents, Robin lived always at Gamewell
Hall, where he passed his time agreeably
away in wrestling, quarter-staff, archery,
and other athletic diversions, m all ot which
he excelled ; and was attended by Little
John, who was a ready assistant m every
mischievous prank.

Robin had gone to pay his father a visit,
when the Squire being suddenly taken, ill,
a messenger was despatched to hasten him
home ; but the dangerous state of his mother s
health prevented him from leaving her till
a late hour on the following day. In the
meantime, the Squire finding himself dying,
sent for a monk in order that he might
make his peace with Heaven, and who pre-
vailed on the dying man to sign a deed,
conveying all he had to the church, as the

21

good behaviour, and the services which you
are able to render me by your skill and
bravery, if you are inclined, never to have
cause to repent of my kindness."

Robin Hood, now Earl of Huntingdon,
and his bowmen, immediately swore alle-
giance to the king ; and by their good con-
duct afterwards, Richard was induced to
place them near his own person as a body
guard.

THE

PROFESSOR OF SIGNS.

King James the Sixth on removing to
London, was waited upon by the Spanish
Embassador, a man of erudition, but who
had a crotchet in his head, that every country
should have a professor of signs, to teach
him, and the like of him, to understand one
another. The ambassador was lamenting
one day, before the king, this great desidera-
tum throughout aE Europe, when the king,
who was a queerish sort of a man, says to
him— "Why, I have a professor of signs
in the northermost college in my dominions,
viz. at Aberdeen ; but it is a great way oft,
perhaps 600 miles,"— " Were it 10,000
leagues off 1 shall see him," says the am-

16

men, and the courtiers began to offer bets
of six to one in favour of the king's men ;
but no one would bet against them. " Will
no knight venture his money on my side ?"
said the queen. " Come, Sir Robert Lee.
you must try your fortune;" but the knight
begged to be excused, as there was no chance
of success. The queen then asked the Bishop
of Hereford, Robin Hood's old foe ; but he
swore by his silver mitre that he woidd not
bet one penny. " If you won't bet on the
queen's side, how much will you venture on
the king's ?" said Robin. " All the gold I
have with me, which is five hundred pounds,"
replied the bishop, and he laid the money on
the ground. Robin immediately produced
a bag of the same value, and threw it down
upon the green.

Before the bowmen began, Queen Eleanor
craved this boon from the king — that he
should not be angry with any of her archers,
but that they should be free to stay at court
during the match, and afterwards to have
forty clays to retire to where they pleased.
King Richard agreed to this; and then or-
dered the targets to be placed. The king's
archers lodged about forty arrows in the
target; but Robin's bowmen, to the aston-
ishment of all the court, placed all their
arrows in the mark.

The captain of the king's archers, chal-

9

and ordered twenty-four of his bowmen and
Allan-a-dale to follow him ; but proceeded to
the church alone, where he found the Bishop
putting on his robes, who asked him what
he wanted, Robin told him he was a harper,
come to offer his services at the wedding.
On the old knight and the bride making
their appearance, Robin stept forward and
said, " I cannot allow this marriage to go
on, for the bride must have her own choice. "
—Then pulling out his horn, he gave threp
blasts, and the bowmen entered the church.
"Young lady," said Robin, "as you are
now free, see if there is any one here you
woidd choose for your husband." She no
sooner saw Allan-a-dale, then she sprang to
him, and said "here is my choice." Robin
requested the Bishop to proceed ; but as he
refused, he pulled off his robes, and put them
on Little John, who took the book, and went
through the ceremony very gracefully,
Robin giving away the bride. The Bishop
and the old knight slunk out of the church,
and the rest of the party went off to celebrate
the wedding at Sherwood Forest.

The Bishop of Hereford was so enraged
at the trick played him, that he made several
excursions to Sherwood Forest with a party
of soldiers, on purpose to take Robin prisoner.
One day, as Robin was walking alone in the
Forest, he heard the trampling of horses

8

desired one of his bowmen to bring the young
man to him ; and when he came, Robin in-
quired the cause of his sadness. The young
man taking a ring from his pocket, said,
u I was to have been married yesterday to
i young lady whom I have long courted,
and I bought this ring for the occasion,
but the Bishop of Hereford, her uncle, has
rejected me, and means to give her to an old
wealthy knight." Robin inquired whether
the young lady had consented to her uncle's
choice or not, and when and where the cere-
mony was to take place. Alan-a-dale (for
that was the name of the young man) told
him that the lady was forced to comply
much against her inclinations, and that the
marriage was to take place that day in the
parish chapel, about five miles from the
forest. When Robin heard the Bishop's
name, who was his great enemy, and the
time and place, he told Alan-a-dale to put
on a cheerful look, and he would ensure him
of getting his mistress. " If you incline to
join our bowmen," said Robin, " bring your
bride to the forest, and let her live with us ;
but if you do not like our merry life, you
are at liberty to carry her wherever you
please. " Alan-a-dale agreed to j oin the bow-
men, as with them he felt himself sure of pro-
tection ; and then, seeing there was no time
to lose, Robin disguised himself as a harper,

17

lenged Robin to shoot three arrows with him
for one hundred pounds ; to which Robin
agreed, on condition that he would shoot one
at the mark he produced. A fresh target
was set up, and the captain amidst thunders
of applause fixed his three arrows in the mark,
and one of them in the very center of the
target ; but Robin, with seeming careless-
ness, let fly his first arrow, which split the
centre one to shivers, and stuck in its place.
Robin then caused two willow wands to be
stuck in the ground at double distance, ob-
serving, that this was the kind of mark he was
accustomed to, and challenged all the king's
archers to a trial ; but as none of them durst
venture after what they had seen, Robin,
with the remaining' two arrows, clove both
the wands. The king's bowmen whispered
to each other, that he must be the devil, for
there never was such archery seen before ;
but the Bishop of Hereford said to the king,
" I know now who they are; that is Robin
Hood, and these fellows are his band." The
king would not have allowed them to depart ;
but as his word had been already given for
their security, he made a noble least, be-
stowed on them the prizes, and sent them
away with honour.

King Richard often thought of the won-
derful dexterity shown by Robin Hood
and his band, and having heard of many of

6

and property of every woman sacred, and
always took the part of the weak and injur-
ed. By the poor people he was adored, for
lie generously supplied their wants from his
own private purse.

Robin Hood, who loved a good joke as well
as good booty, meeting one day a jolly-look-
ing butcher on horseback, who was going to
Nottingham fair, with panniers on each side,
made a bargain for the mare and panniers,
and an exchange of clothes. The butcher
having put on the fine green uniform, Robin
dressed and mounted as a butcher, and rode
straight to Nottingham market, where he
hired a stall, and began to dispose of his
meat, giving more for one penny than the
butchers could do for five, so that they sold
nothing. The butchers supposing him to
be some senseless spendthrift, and that a
good bargain might be got off him, asked
him to dine with them. Robin consented,
and after dinner insisted on paying the bill ;
which was no sooner observed by the Sheriff,
a cunning old miser, who was master both
of the market and tavern, than he determined
to take advantage of it, and said to him,
" Good fellow, hast thou any horned beast
to sell ?" " Yes, good Master Sheriff," re-
plied Robin, " if you will please to go and
see them."

The Sheriff immediate])' ordered out his

19

stand, and deliver your money; it was a
monk that ruined me, and I have sworn to
spare none of your fraternity." " But wo
are going on the king's message," said
Richard. When Robin heard this, he let
go the bridle, saying, "God save him! and
confound all his enemies !" " Thou art curs-
ing thyself," said the king; "for thou art
a robber, an outlaw, and a traitor." Were
you not his messenger," returned Robin, "I
would say you lied; for I never injured the
honest and industrious man ; I protect
women and children and all the poor around
me; it is only from the miserly rich, and
those who live upon the labours of others,
that I take any thing ; but as you are King
Richard's servants, 1 will not deprive you oi
a single penny, and also excuse what you
have said." 'Robin asked them to partake
of his good cheer before they proceeded on
their journey. This being exactly the thing
that the king wished for in order to sound
Robin, he gave a ready consent, and then
said, " was you not afraid singly to attack
thirteen men?" "I am not afraid often
thirteens," returned Robin ; then putting his
horn to his mouth, he blew a shrill blast,
and one hundred and fifty of his bowmen
instantly appeared in view. The king was
so charmed with the sight, and the manner
in which they obeyed their captain, that he

18

their generous actions, he regretted that they
were outlaws, who by plundering those whom
lie was bound to protect, were therefore ene-
mies to the state. Sometimes he would
exclaim, " If I could make these outlaws
faithful subjects, what a pride they would be
to my court !"

One day queen Eleanor entered, and craved
the boon he had promised to grant if her
champions were victorious, " My dear Rich-
ard," said she, " the boon I ask is the free
pardon of Robin Hood and his men, who
will, I am certain, prove themselves worthy
of your clemency, and be a valuable acquisi-
tion to your crown." "My dear mother,"
said he, "I can refuse you nothing; but,
before I grant your request, I must see
Robin Hood again, in order to discover what
his sentiments are ; for which _ purpose I
mean to disguise myself immediately, and
go to Sherwood Forest."

As the queen approved of this, Richard,
accompanied by twelve of his courtiers, all
disguised as monks, mounted their horses,
and proceeded to the Forest. Robin Hood,
who observed them at a distance, thought it
was a whole monastery of friars, and he de-
termined to plunder them. King Richard,
who was taller than the rest, rode foremost,
and Robin taking him for the abbot, seized
his horse by the bridle, saying, " Abbot,

7

horse, and putting three hundred pounds in
gold into a bag, rode off with Robin on the
road that leads through Sherwood Forest
On'entering the Forest the Sheriff exclaim-
ed, "God preserve us from the man called
Robin Hood !" and they had not proceeded
far when a number of fat deer were seen
skipping about. " How do you like my
horned beasts, Master Sheriff?" said Robin;
" these are the cattle I told you of." " To
tell you the truth," replied he, "I don't
much like your company, and wish I were
safely in Nottingham again." Robin blew
three blasts with his buglehorn, and Little
John, with a number of the merry men,
immediately appeared. < ' Here, comrades,"
said he, " I have brought the Sheriff of
Nottingham to dine with you to-day, and
1 hope he will pay for his dinner.'' The
Sheriff was forced, much against his inclina-
tion, to go and dine with them. After the
entertainment, Robin eased him of the three
hundred pounds he had in the bag to pay for
his intended purchase, and then placing him
on his horse, he led him out of the forest,
and desired to be kindly remembered to his
wife.

One morning as Robin was strolling in
(lie Forest, he saw a genteel-looking young
man sitting under a tree, who appeared to
be very melancholy and dejected. He

10

behind him, and looking- about, saw the
Bishop with six of his followers in pursuit of
him. As they were only at a short distance
behind him, Robin had no time to lose, there-
fore he ran forward till he reached the cot-
tage of a poor old woman, into which he
rushed and begged her to save his life. She
immedietely exchanged clothes with him,
and as the Bishop came in with his men,
Robin passed by them and got clear oft'.
When he came in sight of his band, one of the
bowmen, who observed him coming, cried out
t 6 A witch, a witch !" and was about to let liy
an arrow at him, when Robin discovered
himself. He then told Little John to kill
a fat deer, as the Bishop of Hereford was to
dine with them, and taking his bowmen
along with him, went to a particular spot to
wait for his guest.

When the Bishop entered the cottage, he
seized the old woman, who was in Robin's
clothes and said, u I know you are one of
Robin Hood's gang, therefore take me to
v/here he is, and your life shall be saved."
The old woman, who had got her directions
from Robin, agreed to take him ; and being
soon mounted, they rode on to an opening in
the Forest, where Robin's bowmen were all
drawn up, when the Bishop asked, " who are
these?" " I think it is Robin Hood, whom
you want, and his merry men," replied she ;

15

Soon after King Richard's return from
Palestine, he proclaimed a grand shooting
match to take place in the palace grounds, and
prizes were to be awarded to the best marks-
men. Queen Eleanor, thinking this a
favourable opportunity to execute her design
in favour of Robin Hood, told the king,
that she could bring one hundred men who
would beat the most skilful of his archers.
The king requested her to bring forward
her champions, and if they were victorious,
he would not only bestow on them the prizes,
but grant her any boon she asked. The
queen immediately despatched the following
message to Robin Hood : " Queen Eleanor
greets you well, requesting that you will
take one hundred of your bowmen with you,
and hasten to London ; for a great match
at the bow is to take place there, and she has
chosen you and your men to be her cham-
pions."

On the appointed day, in presence of the
whole court, the king's archers, who were
thought to be the best in the kingdom ranged
themselves on one side; while the queen's
champions, all clad in gTeen, with Robin
Hood at their head, took their station on the
other ; but the queen was the only person
there who knew them. After sounding the
trumpets, King - Richard announced the prizes
which were to be bestowed on the best marks-

14

plunder the rich convent of St. Mary, and
to carry off the image of the Holy Virgin,
which was of solid silver. Under the dis-
guise of a poor blind minstrel and his mother,
Robin Hood and Little John gained admit-
tance to the convent ; and, when the nuns
and friars had returned to their cells, opened
the gates to their companions. The alarm
soon spread through the convent, and every
one flew to the chapel for protection ; but
the bowmen having already entered the place,
were proceeding to spoil it of what was most
valuable, and to take down the silver image,
when one of the nuns cried out, u Oh,
mercy will they take away the gift of our
queen, even while she is within our walls ?"
On hearing this, Robin said, "My brave
comrades, desist, and let not disloyalty be
ranked among our errors ; this house and all
within it are rendered sacred by the presence
of Queen Eleanor!" The bowmen instantly
obeyed their leader, and as they quitted the
convent, Robin told the nuns to bless the
queen for preserving their image, which
otherwise would have bought wine to the
Sherwood venison.

When the queen heard of the behaviour of
Robin Hood, and that his respect for her alone
had saved the convent from being plun-
dered, she was so much pleased, that she
determined to be a friend to him and his men.

11

"but I cannot be certain, for I am only a pogr
old woman, who changed clothes with him."
The Bishop, after bestowing a hearty male-
diction on. the old woman, was turning to
ride off; but Robin brought him down from
his horse, and forced him to go and partake
of their good cheer. After dinner he made
the Bishop dance a hornpipe, to the no small
diversion of the bowmen ; and having eased
him of five hundred pounds, as payment of
his reckoning, they led him and his fol-
lowers to the high road, where the bowmen
gave three cheers, and then returned to the
Forest.

One fine summer day, when the merry
bowmen were enjoying their sports, and
trying each other's prowess, Robin, elated
with his own superiority, said, " My friends,
do you know any man that can match me
at wrestling, playing the quarter-staff, or
killing a deer?" Will Scarlet, who bore
Robin a kind of grudge, replied, " I ha ve
heard of a friar in t ountain Abbey, who
will draw a bow, wrestle, or handle a quar-
ter-staff with any man alive." " Say you
so," said Robin, " I shall soon have prooi
of that ; u and taking his bow and quarter-
staff with him, went to the neighbourhood
of the Abbey, where he saw a tall brawny
friar walking by the river side, and in-
stantly knew him to be the man he wanted

i

23

waiting the issue with fear and trembling.
The ambassador holds up one of his fingers to
Geordy; Geordy holds up two of his. The
ambassador holds up three; Geordy clinches
his firstand looks stern. The ambassador then
takes an orange from his pocket, and holds if
up ; Geordy takes a piece of barley cake from
his pocket, and holds that up. After which,
the ambassador bows to him, and retires to
the other professors, who anxiously enquired
his opinion of their brother. u He is a per-
fect miracle," says the ambassador, "I would
not give him for the wealth of the Indies !" —
"■ Well," says the professors, "to descend to
particulars." — " Why," said the ambassador,
" I first held up one finger, denoting that
there is one God; he held up two, signi-
fying that there are the Father and Son ;
I held up three, meaning the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost; he clinched his fist to
say that these three are one. I then took
out an orange, signifying the goodness of
God, who gives his creatures not only the
necessaries, but the luxuries of life; upon
which the wonderfid man presented a piece
of bread, showing that it was the staff ol
life, and preferable to every luxury." The
professors were glad that matters had
turned out so well ; so having got quit of
the ambassador, they next got Geordy, to
hear his version of the signs. "Well,

22

bassador, " and am determined to set out in
two or three days." The king saw he had
committed himself, and writes, or causes to
be written, to the university of Aberdeen,
stating the case, and desiring the professors
to put him off, or make the best of him they
could. The ambassador arrives, is received
with great solemnity; but soon began to
enquire which of them had the honour to be
professor of signs ? and being told that the
professor was absent in the Highlands, and
would not return nobody could say when ;
says the ambassador, "I will wait his return,
though it were twelve months. " Seeing that
this would not do, and that they had to en-
tertain him at a great expence all the while,
they contrived a stratagem : There was one
Geordy, a butcher, blind of an eye, a droll
fellow, with much wit and roguery about
him. He is got, told the story, and instruct-
ed to be professor of signs ; but not to speak
on pain of death. Geordy undertakes it
— The ambassador is now told that the pro-
fessor of signs would be at home next day,
at which he rejoiced greatly. Geordy is
gowned, wigged, and placed in a chair ol
state, in a room of the college, all the profes-
sors and the ambassador being in an adjoin-
ing room. The ambassador is now shown in
to Geordy's room, and left to con verse with him
as well as he could, the whole of the professors

HISTORY OF

ROBIN HOOD-

In the time of Richard I. king of England,
the famous Robin Hood was born at a vil-
lage in Nottinghamshire, and near which
were many large forests filled with deer.
His father was a ranger of the forest, and
he had a rich old uncle, Squire Gamewell,
a brother of his mother's, who lived about
twenty miles distant. When Robin had
reached his thirteenth year, it was deter-
mined that he should pay his uncle a visit
at Christmas ; and accordingly, after put-
ting on a new suit of clothes, he set oft' on
horseback, with his mother behind him.
On reaching Gamewell Hall, they met
with a hearty welcome from the Squire, who
had a great company at his house, and the
day was spent in great merriment. It was
here that Robin got intimate with Little
John, and with great glee, he then got